Gumshields/Mouthguards

Talk To Frank

From January 1st 2013, all players playing Gaelic Football in grades up to and including Minor will be required to wear a mouthguard in all games and at practice sessions.
Following the GAA’s Annual Congress in April 2012 a new rule was enacted that made it mandatory to use a mouthguard in all Gaelic football matches and training sessions from January 1st 2013 for all age grades up to and including minor and at U21 and Adult level from January 1st 2014.
Research figures indicate that Ireland has one of the highest rates of sport-related oral injuries in the EU, with one third of all adult dental injuries being sports-related.
The GAA’s Medical, Scientific & Welfare Committee acknowledge that the use of a properly fitted mouthguard is the best available protective device for reducing the incidence and severity of sports-related dental injuries and was centrally involved in ensuring the introduction of compulsory mouthguards in Gaelic Football.

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2811121044-introduction-of-mandatory-mouthguards-to-gaelic-football/

Personally have found it difficult playing while wearing a mouthguard. Anyone else dreading this or believe it's a step in the right direction?

slievenamon fella

personally i think its a good idea...oral injuries can be quite serious and teeth can be praticluar expensive to fix,many people spend thousands on gettin their teeth done by wearings braces etc all for it to go down the drain when they got damaged during a match,my own father had 3 of his front teeth knocked out playing gaa and is somethin he has to live without for the rest of his life!! they wearing of the gum shield can be annoying at first but in the space of a short time it becomes almost unnoticeable. gaa actually implementing a rule that makes sense for once!!!:eek:

daniels.ducks

I wear ones that were fitted by a dentist. Great job! I wouldn't feel right without them now even in training. Was playing a hurling match the other day and got a slap in the head. Felt my teeth clatter together and am thinking of wearing them under the helmet now because of it

jive

I took a good few slaps in the mouth 2 years ago so wore them for matches last year. No serious injuries or anything just blood injuries. Granted I had a blood injury after getting a slap in the mouth whilst wearing a mouth guard this year but it does protect your teeth because had I not been wearing it it would have been an unmerciful forearm straight into my teeth, fook that.

Good idea, imo. Takes a few weeks getting used to them but once you get going you forget that you're wearing it.

cormac halpin

Should have been phased in and left voluntary for any player who never used them, but if lads could get used to helmets, they'll get used to gumshields, will will make it more difficult to racially abuse people so it will be of huge use down Wexford way no doubt.

Super hoop

daniels.ducks wrote: »

I wear ones that were fitted by a dentist. Great job! I wouldn't feel right without them now even in training. Was playing a hurling match the other day and got a slap in the head. Felt my teeth clatter together and am thinking of wearing them under the helmet now because of it

Roughly how much did it cost ya to get the dentist to make you one?

SeaFields

Talk To Frank wrote: »

Personally have found it difficult playing while wearing a mouthguard. Anyone else dreading this or believe it's a step in the right direction?

Right direction definitely. Lads got used to helmets fairly quickly. They'll get used to mouthguards.

daniels.ducks

Super hoop wrote: »

Roughly how much did it cost ya to get the dentist to make you one?

100 quid but i have them with the last two years.. i know of a few dentists that will give clubs discounts if a number of players go for it.. IMO it is an essential piece of kit.. rather spend 100 quid protecting my teeth that spend thousands because of a loose elbow/head EDIT: Even the cheap shop bought ones are better than nothing.

munchkin_utd

cormac halpin wrote: »

Should have been phased in and left voluntary for any player who never used them, but if lads could get used to helmets, they'll get used to gumshields, will will make it more difficult to racially abuse people so it will be of huge use down Wexford way no doubt.

it IS being phased in.
Decision was taken at the start of 2012.
Kids/ Youths must wear them from the start of 2013
Adults from the start of 2014

How much more phased can you get?

jive

daniels.ducks wrote: »

100 quid but i have them with the last two years.. i know of a few dentists that will give clubs discounts if a number of players go for it.. IMO it is an essential piece of kit.. rather spend 100 quid protecting my teeth that spend thousands because of a loose elbow/head EDIT: Even the cheap shop bought ones are better than nothing.

Agreed. I have a cheap shop bought one, put it in hot water then place into your mouth so it molds somewhat to the shape of your mouth. Has done the trick so far as I can't be arsed forking out the cash for the dentist created ones - mainly because my teeth are still moving a good bit (like you said though, rather spend 100 than thousands)

cormac halpin

munchkin_utd wrote: »

it IS being phased in.
Decision was taken at the start of 2012.
Kids/ Youths must wear them from the start of 2013
Adults from the start of 2014

How much more phased can you get?

Phasing it in that any adult playing GAA when it was brought it need not wear them, but anyone under the age of 18 should. Thats how much more phased it can get.

Simps.

GAAman

It is being phased in, the directive from April 2012 states that it is up to and including minor level from 1st January 2013 and then all levels from 1st January 2014. Ladies football is not included in this.

I can see both sides of this argument to be honest. Have seen one club with a dentist in their ranks perform the fittings at cost only, while another club five minutes up the road who are not so well off will suffer because of it.

Oh and also to mention the rule states it is mandatory for training and matches not just matches

FionnK86

I never found it difficult. I also played rugby with a gumshield and personally wouldn't play without it. At the end of the day clubs are losing money sending players to physios(and dentists!) and it's not fair seeing as its up to personal care

Browning

Oral Injury to be avoided at all cost. Too be serious I have no issue with introduction of compulsory mouthguards. However I do fail to see what they went for the phased approach. Should have all been introduced from 1/1/13 and cut out the messing with two dates.

LeoB

Personally I think its a good idea the right way to go. Like many here I have seen a lot of teeth knocked out over the years, I lost 3 teeth but never wore a mouth guard even after second elbow!!

but..... I have a child with a severe sensory disorder and we tried him with a fairly decent one this year and it didn't work for him as it made him quite sick on occasions. However we feel we should be let make the decision as to whether he wears one or not and if he doesn't we have to accept responsibility which we would be happy to do.

From having a chat with a few people he will be allowed play but if anything happens its our problem. There probably wont be many children in this position but some allowance should be made for the kids who cant wear them.

GAAman

LeoB wrote: »

From having a chat with a few people he will be allowed play but if anything happens its our problem. There probably wont be many children in this position but some allowance should be made for the kids who cant wear them.

Just on this point, the members of your club can explain it to the ref on match days but it is up to the ref in question whether he will be allowed or not they will have the final say.

LeoB

GAAman wrote: »

Just on this point, the members of your club can explain it to the ref on match days but it is up to the ref in question whether he will be allowed or not they will have the final say.

I dont think any referee should be put in the position or would have the knowledge of his his illness to decide if a child can play or not, I could name 5 or 6 referees who would take great pleasure in not letting him play.

I think there needs to be an indemnity form signed by parents in cases like this as we could have people object to players not wearing them.

ballsymchugh

LeoB wrote: »

Personally I think its a good idea the right way to go. Like many here I have seen a lot of teeth knocked out over the years, I lost 3 teeth but never wore a mouth guard even after second elbow!!

but..... I have a child with a severe sensory disorder and we tried him with a fairly decent one this year and it didn't work for him as it made him quite sick on occasions. However we feel we should be let make the decision as to whether he wears one or not and if he doesn't we have to accept responsibility which we would be happy to do.

From having a chat with a few people he will be allowed play but if anything happens its our problem. There probably wont be many children in this position but some allowance should be made for the kids who cant wear them.

just a little tip on this, if your son is having issues with gagging, get a little bit of bonjela, and rub it along the inside of the gumshield where it hits the palate. it should numb it a little bit, hopefully making it more comfortable. just get him to do it for a few minutes a day, and slowly decrease the amount you use, and increase the time he keeps the gumshield in. hopefully this will condition his mouth to accept it.

LeoB

ballsymchugh wrote: »

just a little tip on this, if your son is having issues with gagging, get a little bit of bonjela, and rub it along the inside of the gumshield where it hits the palate. it should numb it a little bit, hopefully making it more comfortable. just get him to do it for a few minutes a day, and slowly decrease the amount you use, and increase the time he keeps the gumshield in. hopefully this will condition his mouth to accept it.

Thank you for that. We have tried quite a few things with him but it all comes back to his big problem which is a a severe sensory disorder. He actually broke one mouth guard as he chewed through it. This also effects what he can eat and basic things that we take as normal run of the mill things. It would be a shame if he has to stop playing because of this

GAAman

LeoB wrote: »

I dont think any referee should be put in the position or would have the knowledge of his his illness to decide if a child can play or not, I could name 5 or 6 referees who would take great pleasure in not letting him play.

I think there needs to be an indemnity form signed by parents in cases like this as we could have people object to players not wearing them.

Ok I was trying to find a way for your son to play without the guard. In approaching the ref and explaining the situation the ref can then decide based on the available information. The indemnity form would not work logistically as for it to be offered in one single club it would have to be available across all boards.

If there are refs as you say who would take great pleasure in not letting him play then I can tell you now they will actively check if he is wearing a guard and be within the letter of the law sending him off.

A thought strikes me as I write this, why don't you approach the chairperson of your club. Fully explain the situation regardless of what they already know and press the fact that your son wants to play eagerly. Tell the chairperson you want the club to appeal to the county board on your sons behalf for an exemption due to the illness in question (Give as much info as possible).

I honestly don't know if it would work or not but it is a suggestion.

LeoB

GAAman wrote: »

Ok I was trying to find a way for your son to play without the guard. In approaching the ref and explaining the situation the ref can then decide based on the available information. The indemnity form would not work logistically as for it to be offered in one single club it would have to be available across all boards.

If there are refs as you say who would take great pleasure in not letting him play then I can tell you now they will actively check if he is wearing a guard and be within the letter of the law sending him off.

A thought strikes me as I write this, why don't you approach the chairperson of your club. Fully explain the situation regardless of what they already know and press the fact that your son wants to play eagerly. Tell the chairperson you want the club to appeal to the county board on your sons behalf for an exemption due to the illness in question (Give as much info as possible).

I honestly don't know if it would work or not but it is a suggestion.

Thanks for your replies to this. I do think he will get an exemption to play. He lives for G.A.A and his pals in our club. Im actually a former chairman of our club so am sure the club will put forward a strong case not just because of my role in the club but for any child who will have this difficulty.

Will update when I get word.